Ink fountain and method



Nov. 26, 1929. H. c. SCHROEDER INK FOUNTAIN AND METHOD Original Filed July 7. 1926 21. Sheets-Sheet l 5/ i INVE/ilORWL A TO 'EY.

Nov. 26, 1929. H. c. SCHROEDER 1,736,944

INK FOUNTAIN AND METHOD Original Filed July 7, 1926 2 sheets she'at 2 I N N 0 N I I I j" ,I: I s i} l l i \o -l- '0 Patented Nov. 26, 192

UNITED STATES PATENT OFIQE I HANS C. SCHROEDER, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS INK FOUNTAIN AND METHOD Original application filed July 7, 1926, Serial No. 120,909. Divided and this application filed August 9,

1927. Serial My invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to the ink fountains employed in printing presses, and to a method for keeping the pigment of the ink uniformly .listributed throughout the body of the ink in the fountain while using any particular kind of ink under any particular set of operating conditions. My invention further relates to automatically agitating all the ink in the fountain while the press is running.

This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 120,909, filed July 7th,1926.

Objects and advantages will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the, novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations, improvements and method herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

- Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section along line 1-'1 of Fig. 3, through an ink fountain of the overshot type, equipped with one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is plan view, partly broken away, of the fountain shown in Fig. 1.

To more readily distinguish my invention from other inventions, and to comply with section i888 of the Revised Statutes, I shall briefly refer to the form of ink. fountain which is now commonly employed in printing presses.

The usual type ofink fountain for a print ing press is provided with a rotatable fountain roller which rotates a portion of its surface in contact with the ink in the fountain at all times, so as to accumulate ink to be transferred to the ductor roll. At the point where the rotating surface of the roller emerges from the fountain there is positioned a doctor blade which serves to scrape the surplus ink from the surface of the roller. As the fountain roller rotates, it sets up a local convection current or eddy in the ink adjacent to its surface. This convection current travels with the surface of the roller to the point of junction of the roller with the doctor blade. Since a relatively small amountof ink is allowed to pass to the edge of the doctor blade, the convection current is rebuffed or turned away from the surface of the roller and travels in a reverse direction on a course slightly divergentfrom the surface of the roller for a certain distance, when it completes its circuit by being drawn back to the rotating roller surface. Thus there is set up in the ink a local convection current which, however,

fails to effect the great mass of ink in the fountain removed from the roller and which,

therefore, is left dead or unagitated. After the press has been running for a comparatively short time it is found in practice that the pigment is withdrawn or used up from the local current of ink described above and consequently the ink which is picked up by the fountain roller becomes thin and loses color. Under the present practice, when this condition arises, the doctor blade has to be somewhat further separated from the fountain roller in order to obtain sufficient color from the thin ink which is being fed from the local currents. rigain, in the present ractice, when the press is idle there is, of course, no local convection current, so that the pigment throughout the body of the ink tends to settle to the bottom of the fountain,

thus causing an uneven distribution and miX- other means in order to secure a proper mix-V ture. Ordinarily, in running color, it is necessary for the pressman to stir up the ink in the fountain by hand about every 15 minutes. By my invention I eliminate all these objectionable features and insure that the pigment in the ink will be uniformly and automatically distributedthroughout the ink in the fountain. It will not be necessary to adf gitating and maintaining the proper just the doctor blade to permit an additional quantity of thin ink to be taken up by the fountain roller,'for by use of the invention, the coloring content and the consistency of he ink will always be uniform, insuring uni- ;ormity of color in the printed product. Further, any tendency that the pigment has to settle out by gravity will automatically be corrected by currents of ink set up in the foun- .ain.

My present invention is directed to a novel method of causing the local convection currents set up in the vicinity of the fountain roller of the ink fountain of a printing press 0 diverge from their natural paths and flow Ll'irough the mass of ink in the fountain which is removed from the fountain roller in such a way to thoroughly agitate said ink and up and mairtain an even distribution of the "igment therein.

My present invention is also directed to means for directing the flow of the above mentioned convection currents throughout the mass of ink in the fountain so as to obtain nd maintain the most desirable mixture of the pigment or coloring matter in the ink. The invention is further directed to effecting and maintaining the desired color and consistency of ink in the fountain by a method 'T'lllCh requires the introduction of no forces other than those employed in the actual operation of an ordinary ink fountain.

My present invention'is adapted to carry out t e novel method described above for mixture and distribution of ink in the ink fountain with any particular kind ink used under any particular set of operating conditions which may vary the ink used.

A Other features and objects of the invention will be further setforthin connection with the appended detailed description of thep esent preferred embodiment and it will be understood that the foregoing general descripion and the following detailed description of the invention are illustrative and. exemplary but are not restrictive of the invention.

My method may be carried out by various forms of apparatus, the invention being ap licable to either an undcrshot or an overshot fountain roller.v and is adapted to give the bestresults when employed with any particular kind of pristin ink and under any par ticular set of eonditlons. In the present ore- ..erred en'ibodiment I have shown my inven tion applied to ink fountains for printing presses equipped with overshot rollers.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention, ill strated by way of example in accompanying drawings 21 (Fig. 1) is a standard form of ink fountain for a printin press equipped with the ordinary form or overshot fountain roller 22, co-operating with the usual ductor roll, (not shown). This glountain 21 is provided with the ordinary meaeaa brackets 51, 51 by rivets 52, 52 or other suit- .1

able securing means. These brackets are pinned to a rod 53 to which spaced apart slotted levers 5st, 54 are also pinned by pins 55, 55, the ends of the rod 53 being journaled loosely in the arms 56, 56. Each arm 56 is pivoted on a stud 60, mounted in a slot 61 in the b 'ackets 62, fast on the fountain 21. As shown in 1 the battle plate is suspended in the fountain 2i, and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 30 of the o "main, with its forward edge 50 adjacent the surface of the fountain roller 22.

Means are provided for varying the position of the baffle plate 50 so that it can be nicely and accurately set, so as to best carry out its function of maintaining the proper mixture and distribution of ink in fountain under any particular set of operating conditions. It will be understood that such positioning means are provided on each side of the baflle plate, and since these sets of mechanism are duplicates, a description of one will suiiice for both. Lever 54: is provided with arc-uate slot 57, through which extends a thumb screw 58, carried by the arm 56. It can be readily seen that by loosening the thumb screw 58, the angular inclination Of the bal'lle plate 50 can be carried within the angular limits of the arcuate slot 57, and by tightening the thumb screw 58 such angular inclination can be set and maintained. Referrino' now to the mountingof the arm 56 the stud 60 is maintained in position by means of the nut 63(l 'ig. 2 It is readily apparent that by loosening the nut 63, the arm 56 is ren dered slidable within the vertical limits of the slot 61, and means are thereby provided for varying the vertical positionof the baffle plate 50 within desirable limits in order to meet varying conditions of operation. Further, the loosening of the nut 63 permits of an angular movement of thearm 56 about its pivot whereby a further variation of the position of the baffle plate can. be obtained. t is clear that by use of the various combinations of the above described variable positioning means, the baffle plate can be set in any position relative to the fountain roller, the doctor blade, and the bottom of the fountain, which is de. able for the carrying out of its function under any possible set of working conditions. I

Referring now to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the forward edge 50 will be in the path of the convection current set u by the rotation of the roller 22 through the ink. In the position no r,

wease shown, when the convection current encounters the edge of the baffle plate it will be divided and a portion deflected downward and backward toward the bottom of the ink fountain, while the remainder continues around with the roller surface until deflected by the doctor blade 23. This latter portion of the convection current in flowing downward and away from the doctor blade encounters the as of even date herewith.

By a proper manipulation and setting OI the several above described positioning means, it can be seen .that the forward edge 30 of the baffle plate could be raised and set at a point adjacent to the junction of the doctor blade 28 with the surface of the fountain roller 22. thus giving the baffle plate an inclination both to the bottom of the fountain and to the doctor blade. Set in this position, the baflle plate would permit the upward passage of the entire convection current to the point where it is deflected by the doctor blade. But when the convection current started on its downward course from the doctor blade, the downwardly inclined surface of the baffle plate would direct said current away from the fountain roller and into the remote rear portion of the ink fountain, where it would be rebuffed and turned back by the rear wall 31 to flow along in a plurality of streams beneath the baffle plate, as more fully described and shown in my copending application Ser. No. 211,712 filed as even date herewith.

'lhe flow of the iukand the convection cur rents set up by the movement of the fountain roller depend to a great extent upon the charactor of the particular ink used, the temperature at a given time, and a number of other conditions. it is therefore highly desirable to be able to vary the position of the baffle plate to meet these conditions and to direct the convection currents of ink so as to obtain the Host eliicicnt and constant mixture consistency, and coloring of the ink. Experience has shown that in using this invention, the best results are obtained by very nicely posiioning the baflle plate for each set of conditions. Two such positions, giving widely differing results, have been described. It is readily conceivable that any number of iiitermediate positions, each of which is to be leterinined by the particular case, are quickly and accurately obtainable by means of this invention.

It is to be understood that the statement of the theory of operation of applicants invention is that founded on applicants understandii at the present time, but should not be construed as restrictive of the actual mannor of operation, which is in practice to secure the results stated.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanism shown and described but departures may be made therefrom *t ithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

hat. I claim is 1. The method of effecting and maintaining uniformity of mixture of the ink in the ink fountain of a printing press which coinprises rotating the fountain roller at a speed sufficient to create a convection current by means of the ink with the fountain roller, and varying the direction of the ink current throughout the fountain to maintain the most uniform mixture in the particular kind of ink used, and under the particular conditions of operation.

'ihe combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, and means to divide the fountain into substantially two compartments to control the circulation of the ink, and means to variably position said dividing means with relation to the bottom of the fountain to vary the courses of the con vection currents of the ink in the fountain.

The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of the fountain roller, and variably positionable means co-operating with the roller to cause a circulation of substantially all the ink in the fountain to and from he ink roller.

1. The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press. of a fountain roller and bai'llc plate co-operating with the roller and adapted to be set in a variety of positions with respect to the roller for the purpose of cOntrolling the direction of flow of the ink current. I

5. The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, and a removable, variably positionable baftle plate co-operating with the roller to direct the flow of the convection currents generated by the movement of the roller.

6. The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, a baffle plate suspended in the fountain and means to raise or lower the points of suspension of the baffle plate for the purpose of varying the direction of the convection currents of the ink in fountain.

7. The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, a battle plate suspended in the fountain and means to vary the angular inclination of the baffle plate for the purpose of varying the direction of the convection currents of the ink in the fountain.

8. he combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, a baffle plate, means to support the bafiie plate, and means to vary the angular inclination of said bathe plate with respect to said n cans so as to obtain the most desirable mixture of ink under all operating conditions.

9. An ink fountain for a printing press including in combination a fountain roller adapted to rotate therein, a baflie plate suspended in the fountain and means to vary the horizontal and vertical position of said baffle plate for the purpose of varying the direction of the convection currents of ink n the fountain so as to maintain a uniform mixture of ink. V

10. An ink fountain for a printing press including in combination a fountain roller adapted to rotate therein, a baffle plate susiended in the fountain, means to vary the horizontal and vertical position of said baffie plate and means to vary the angular inclination of the baffle plate, all for the purpose of varyin the direction of the convection currents of ink in the fountain so as to maintain a uniform mixture of ink.

11. An ink fountain for a printing press including in combination an overshot fountain roller adapted to rotate therein, a doctor Slade, a baffle plate suspended in the fountain with one edge adjacent to the roller and removed from the doctor blade, and means to vary the position of said baffle plate so as to position said edge adjacent the junction of lhe doctor blade and roller for the purpose of changing tl e direction of the convectioncurrents in the ink.

12. An ink fountain for a printing press including in combination a fountain roller adapted to rotate therein, a baiile plate suspended in the fountain and means to vary the 'ertical position of s id bathe plate for the purpose of varying the direction of the convection currents of ink in the fountain so to maintain a uniform mixture of ink.

l-rn ink fountain for a printing press including in combination a fountain roller adapted to rotate therein, a bafile platesuspenned in the fountain and means to vary the horizontal position of said baffle plate for the purpose of varying the direction of the convection currents of ink in the fountain so as to maintain a uniform mixture of ink.

1%. An ink fountain for printing presses including in combination means for feeding ink therefrom, a baffle plate suspended Within the fountain and cooperating With the currents induced Within the fountain by feeding theink therefrom for maintaining uniform she mixture of ink and means for raising or lowering the point of suspension of said baffie plate.

15. An ink fountain for printing presses including in combination means for feeding ink therefrom, a plate suspended Within the fountain and cooperating with the currents induced Within the fountain by feeding the ink therefrom for maintaining uniform the mixture of ink and means for varying the angular inclination of said ballie plate.

16. An ink fountain for printing presses including in combination means for feeding ink therefrom, a baffle plate suspended Within the fountain and cooperating With the currents induced Within the fountain by feeding the ink therefrom for maintaining uniform the mixture of ink and means for altering the distance between the fountain roller and the edge of the bafile plate.

17. The combination in an ink fountain of a printing press of a fountain roller, 21 bafiie plate, means to support the baffle plate and means to vary the distance between the edge of the baflie plate and the fountain roller.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HANS O. SCHROEDER. 

